Directional signal for motor vehicles



Feb; 20, 1940. E. T. CONDQN v DIRECTIONAL SIGNAL FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Original Filed Sept. 27, 1952 FIG.2

FIG..1.

. INVENTOR. EDWARD 7. CONDON ATTORNEY.

[ l st ned Feb. 20, 1940 Edward'l. Condon, New York, N, Y. Original application September 27, 1932, Serial 9 i The" invention relates to directional signal devicesfor motor vehicles, more particularly to electrically; operated devices whereby, for example, a rightor left-hand turn may be indi- 3 cated at will to a succeedingor approaching ve-' hicle as byfloperati'on of a suitable switch located conveniently to-the joperatoriofthe vehicle.

The invention haisjfor an object a simple 'and conveniently assembled2;s'tructure embodying a 10 design element illuminated hen "sig 'al is to be given; 1; i :1 l

A further object, of itheii'ivention re desinthe provision of a lens as design :unit 1 wherein and whereby the design element. is so'positionedaas to I 15 be within a shadow areabaflorded by the position ing memberforfthe'lens elemenh-which; element is screened'also, thereby against light from ass'o-f ciated signal lamps, any. I

Another object of theyinvention is tov afford, 1;; a rugged construction securing the shadow area without the usualprojecting visor, and whereby Y the device is eflective when mounted on a vehicle a in any angular' position with reference. to the optical axis of thelens element by correspondingu ly rotating said lens element about said axis to.

locate thezdesign element depicted thereon wi referenceto the housing.

Stillanother'objectof the i "lvention resides'in the construction of a design element retaining" member which is suitably reinforced tostifl'en the same, said construction affording "at 'thee-ame time a means for positioningthe "element to secure the shadow area and the screening effect aforesaid.v n y 1 An obdect of the invention, also, is to afford a lamp retaining element adequately protecting the lamp and providing for itsready removal therewith to allow access to the lamp, there being afiorded, also; ample space for the electrical conductors to said lamp.

In carrying out the invention, the signal device is constructed of two separable units constituting a lamp housing and the one affording a support for the other. This supported unit is in the nature of an open-ended cylinder having its edge turned over and inwardly directed a substantial distance toward the supporting unit to afiord an abutment and a shadow area within the cylinder for the design element which is positioned 50 therein against said abutment. The said open-- directionalsignal device sem ly. I 1

Divided and this application April 16, 1937, Serial No. 137,176

I CIaim. (Cl. 177-329) be understood when described'jin connection'with the accompanying drawing, in ,which:

Fig, 1 isafront elevat n showing'the novel I, 'Figfi? isfa' horizonta action; thereof. '5 Fig. 3is:-an;ei fploded viewfof thelamp housing is a verticalfsec onof the, signal device.

referring to the drawinm the' novel signal device comprises a housinglll, for example, crime 10 acorntype" and having aninner portion in the ature'oflabowl;whilethe outer portion 82 is eparabl'eaaiidin the nature of a barrel or open ylinder, for 1 example, with its outer portion f 'afiord a'shoulder for a lens l4. 'I 'he seams iportioniagmore'over, sets this lens backflan appreciable distance and affords a shadow boxforlthe'designso that undesired il- .lLllXllIi'flitiOH-Of the same-from an 'external source 20 will be materially. red dijio confusion as vlded onlylo'n the rear or The particular design? played through the lens I means of a stencil plate i5 loca ed immediately go behind the lens 14 which-is preferably sandblasted over its inner face, and the surface of the stencil plate adjacent the lens being preferably blackened While its opposite surface which faces the inner portion of the bowl H is preferably 35 polished to reflect back any light into the interior. In the provision, ofa sand-blasted or etched rear surface of the design, any external illumination will be prevented from passing through with any degree of intensity. 0

The desired color in which the signal is to be displayed may conveniently be obtained from a transparent or translucentcolored disk 20 located behind the lens, said disk being preferably of so-called stipple glass with the' stippled sur- 5 face facing inwardly toward the interior of the housing. This disk, furthermore, is preferably displacedan appreciabledistance from the lens by agasket 2| or the like to afford an intermediate air chamber whereby there is prevented apo "preciable illumination oftheinterior colored lens by any external light which might; enter through the design. l

The desired illumination for a signal is obtained from electric light 22 carried by a par- 3 ned'inwardlyandbackwardly upon'itself" as 13 i abolic reflector 23 and mounted with its filament substantially in the focus of the reflector, the light and reflector being positioned behind the colored disk 20. Reflector 23 is provided with a flange 24 bearing upon the disk at its circumference; and all of the members are retained in position by means of this flange through the action of a resilient strap member 25 which is adapted to fit over the bottom of the reflector and is removably secured at its opposite ends beneath the inturned inner edge 26 of member I2, the reflector sliding slightly when pressure is exerted upon the spring strap allowing its tongue to be inserted or "withdrawn. A suitable longitudinal key 2! in the inner wall of the housing member l2 serves to properly locate the various elements of this assembly which may be slotted to fit the said key.

The hereinbefore-described assembly, moreover, makes for a compact unit which is readily joined. to the bowl portion H of the housing, for example, by means of a screw 30 adapted to pass through an opening 3| in the wall of the.bowl

and threaded into the strap 25 holding the unit together. Furthermore, in uniting the two housing portions, a prong 32 at the end of the strap opposite the screw-receiving end, and projecting radially over the adjacent edge of the housing portion I2, is adapted to enter a slot 33 in the wall of the bowl portion H of the housing and thus further insure the union of the two members.

The present application is a division of my copending application Serial #635,006, filed September 27, 1932 and issued April 20, 1937 as-Patout No. 2,077,461.

I claim:

A signal lamp for motor vehicles including a cylinder having one end portion turned over and inwardly directed a substantial distance toward the other end, signal indicia means supported at the termination of the inwardly directed portion, the latter adapted to form a shadow area to reduce undesired illumination of the signal indicia from external sources.

" EDWARD T. CONDON. 

